Social & Emotional Learning

Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) refers to a wide range of skills, attitudes, and behaviors that can affect a student's success in school and life. Critical thinking, managing emotions, working through conflicts, decision making, and teamwork - all of these are the kind of skills that are not necessarily measured by tests but which round out a student's education and impact his/her academic success, employability, self-esteem, relationships, as well as civic and community engagement.

Social-emotional learning can positively impact students, teachers, and school districts. Students learn the skills needed to self-regulate and constructively work toward solutions that benefit them in the classroom. However, the advantages of social-emotional learning do not stop there.

Social-emotional learning often begins at a young age and is useful in creating a welcoming and safer environment for students. Beyond this, however, it can fundamentally transform the lives of young children and the classroom environments.


About Social and Emotional Learning

What is SEL?

Social and Emotional Learning is the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills necessary for life. SEL is built on five key parts:

  • Relationship Skills

  • Self-awareness

  • Social Awareness

  • Self-management

  • Responsible decision making

In practice, SEL grows important soft skills such as:

  • understanding and managing emotions

  • setting and achieving positive goals

  • feeling and showing empathy for others

  • establishing and maintaining positive relationships

  • making responsible decisions


How is SEL used in our schools?

We use the basics to guide our use of SEL in our district, focusing on the fundamentals:

  • relationship building

  • developing student grit

  • creating engaging learning spaces

  • Whole Child Development

We target these building blocks in our instruction and through welcoming rituals, engaging practices, and optimistic closures.


Resources

Below are some useful resources to help families learn about SEL at home.